DANGEROUS MINERALS
A recent Rock & Gem Magazine article highlighted and explained in detail about
how to safely handle the collecting, storing, displaying, and studying of ten of the top
most hazardous minerals. Information on the mineral article was authored by Steve
Voynick who explained that he obtained most of his info from a website as follows;
(www.listsverse.com/2013/03/07/10-most-deadly-rocks-and-minerals/)
According to Listverse, the ten most deadly minerals are:
• CINNABAR: Mercury Sulfide, “the single most toxic mineral to handle on Earth”! Most
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abundant of the few mercury-bearing minerals, and the only ore of mercury. Occurs in
veins and replacement deposits in volcanic areas and hot springs. It is bright red in color
with a hardness of 2-2,5; native mercury is a silvery, toxic, liquid metal that when
absorbed or inhaled from vapors, can corrode the membranes of the brain, nervous
system, liver, and kidneys. It also impairs the body’s immune, genetic, and enzyme systems.
Short term contact can cause bleeding gums, vomiting, and stomach pain.
ORPIMENT: Arsenic Sulfide, that is about 75% arsenic, with a hardness of 1.5 to 2.0.
Also, another closely related mineral is REALGAR, which has the same attributes. Both
occur together in low-temperature hydrothermal environments, and as condensates in
fumarole environments. REALGAR is bright red; ORPIMENT is yellowish-orange.The
semi-metal, arsenic, has a long history of poisoning and death. Traces of arsenic occur
naturally in the human body, and in many foods, and water sources. Ingesting as little as
0.1 gram can be fatal. Because arsenic and phosphorous are chemically similar, arsenic
can easily replace phosphorous in the ATP molecule[adenosine triphosphate], a chemical
necessary to both plants and animals to provide metabolic energy.
STIBNITE: Antimony Trisulfide, occurs mainly in low-temperature, hydrothermal veins.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, often in radiating clusters or sprays of long,
striated, silvery-gray prisms with a gleaming, and sometimes slightly iridescent, metallic
luster. It owes its toxicity to antimony, a semimetal closely related to arsenic. Stibnite,
which is 72% antimony, is a particular toxic form of antimony, as well as a known
carcinogen.
TORBERNITE; Hydrated Copper Uranium Phosphate, crystallizes in the tetragonal
mineral system, as thick to thin tabular crystals, and as foliated and micaceous aggregates.
Because of its transparent to translucent emerald green crystals, it is popular among
collectors. It is made of more than 50% radioactive uranium. Radioactivity, the emission
of energetic, ionizing, electromagnetic energy as waves or particles, is the product of
atomic decay, the natural disintegration of unstable atoms or isotopes. Ionizing radiation
usually consists of a mix of alpha and beta particles, and gamma rays. Ionizing radiation
can destabilize atoms it strikes by knocking electrons from their orbits, thus altering the
atom. Handling of torbernite can allow gamma rays to penetrate tissue of the hands and
fingers. Torbernite also emits a colorless, tasteless, odorless, and invisible radon gas in the
form of highly radioactive isotopes called “radon daughters”. High levels of radon gas ore
very carcinogenic when inhaled.
ARSENOPYRITE: Iron Arsenic Sulphide, crystallizes in the monoclinic system as short,
or equant prisms with a gray-white color, and a bright, metallic luster. It has a hardness of
5.5-6.0, and arsenic accounts for 50% of its weight. Although, not as crumbly as
orpiment or realgar, it is nevertheless unstable. Striking it with a hammer
or metal object, releases the garlicky odor of arsenic; heating it will also
release arsenic vapors.
CHRYSOTILE: Basic Magnesium Silicate is a mineral of asbestos. The industrial
term“asbestos” refers to the fibrous form of a group of complex, monoclinic silicates.
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Chrysotile is the most widely mined asbestos-group mineral. Nonflammable asbestos
fibers are manufactured into fireproof fabrics, insulation, and construction materials, as
well as asphalt, caulking compounds, paints, and brake linings. When tiny asbestos fibers
are inhaled, they penetrate delicate tissues of the lungs, and eventually trigger abnormal
cell growth. This condition, known as asbestosis, can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma,
as long as 30 years after exposure. The main hazard comes from the mining and milling of
asbestos minerals, and from manufacturing and working with asbestos products.
GALENA: Lead Sulfide is the most abundant lead-bearing mineral on earth, and the
primary ore of lead. It crystallizes in the cubic system as well developed cubes, with a
dark, lead-gray color, and a dull to bright, metallic luster. When lead in any form is
ingested or inhaled, red blood cells absorb the metal, concentrating it at first in the liver
and kidneys, and eventually in the bones. Lead adversely affects the central nervous
system, and the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from harmful chemicals.
Although galena is relatively stable, its surface will, over time, alter to a fine, powdery,
white film of lead oxide, or lead carbonate. Always wash your hands when handling
galena. This precaution applies to other collectible lead minerals, such as: Cerussite [lead
car4bonate], Wulfenite [lead molybdate], Crocoite [lead chromate], Vanadinite [lead
chlorovanadate], and Pyromorprhite [lead chlorophosphate].
HUTCHINSONITE: Lead Thallium Arsenic Sulfide is a rare mineral that forms long,
prismatic to acicular [needlelike] crystals in attractive , complex aggregates and radiating
clusters. It is transparent to opaque with a dark cherry-red color, and an adamantine
[diamond-like] luster. It contains three potentially hazardous elements, and Listverse
describes it as a “lethal mineral cocktail”. In addition to arsenic and lead Hutchinsonite
contains thallium, a toxic heavy netal. Thallium’s toxicity is due to its strong affinity to
sulfur. It readily replaces sulfur in protein molecules, thereby disrupting normal cellular
function. Thallium and its compounds, which are also carcinogens, are easily absorbed
through the skin.
CHALCANTHITE: Hydrous Copper Sulfate is collected for its short, prismatic to tabular,
bright-blue crystals. It is a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidation [upper, near
surface] zones of copper deposits, usually in moist conditions. Chalcanthite’s toxicity is
due to its copper content, which accounts for 40% by weight. While most copper minerals
are relatively safe to handle, chalcanthite is an exception because of its extreme solubility.
In trace amounts, copper is an essential nutrient , and the body closely regulates its levels.
But because of its extreme solubility, chalcanthite frees large amounts of copper ions
[cations, or positive ions], that can overwhelm the body’s regulation mechanism, resulting
in copper poisoning, and subsequent metabolic failure.
COLORADOITE: Mercury Telluride usually occurs in granular or massive form. As a
rare mineral with a grayish-black color, and a dull, metallic luster, coloradoite is not often
collected. Both mercury and tellurium are toxic. Tellurium is a rare, semimetallic element
with limited uses as a semiconductor, as a gasoline antiknock additive, and a blue
colorizing agent for glass products. Coloradoite is unstable and releases vapors of both
mercury and tellurium when heated. The vapors are quickly absorbed when inhaled, and
cause impair the normal functioning of the intestinal tract and central nervous system
system.
SAFETY RULES FOR MINERAL HANDLING
NEVER POWDER OR GRIND UP A MINERAL SPECIMEN.
NEVER TREAT SPECIMENS WITH CHEMICALS.
NEVER HEAT SPECIMENS.
MINIMIZE OR ENTIRELY AVOID SKIN CONTACT WITH SPECIMENS.
NEVER TASTE TEST ANY MINERAL SPECIMEN.
NEVER STORE OR HANDLE SPECIMENS IN LIVING, OR EATING AREAS OF THE HOME.
STORE RADIOACTIVE SPECIMENS AWAY FROM LIVING AREAS, AND IN VENTILATED OUT-BLDGS.
NEVER HANDLE FIBROUS ASBESTOS MINERALS IN ANY WAY THAT WOULD RELEASE FIBERS.
KEEP ALL SPECIMENS AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS.
CLEAN ALL SURFACES THAT SPECIMENS HAVE CONTACTED.
ALWAYS WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING MINERAL SPECIMENS.